2023-24 Europa Conference League KO Play - offs. Referee appointments for First Legs.
18:45 CET - Graz (Merkur Arena)
SK Sturm Graz (AUT) - ŠK Slovan Bratislava (SVK)
Referee: Mohammed Al-Hakim SWE
Assistant Referee 1: Fredrik Klyver SWE
Assistant Referee 2: Max Robin Wilde SWE
Fourth Official: Oscar Johnson SWE
Video Assistant Referee: Fedayi San SUI
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Lukas Fähndrich SUI
UEFA Referee Observer: Stefano Podeschi SMR
UEFA Delegate: Jovan Šurbatović SRB
18:45 CET - Brussels (Lotto Park)
Royale Union Saint-Gilloise (BEL) - Eintracht Frankfurt (GER)
Referee: Craig Pawson ENG
Assistant Referee 1: Lee Betts ENG
Assistant Referee 2: Ian Hussin ENG
Fourth Official: Simon Hooper ENG
Video Assistant Referee: Stuart Attwell ENG
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Christopher Kavanagh ENG
UEFA Referee Observer: Levan Paniashvili GEO
UEFA Delegate: Tammo Beishuizen NED
18:45 CET - Piraeus (Stádio Geórgios Karaïskákis)
Olymbiakós SFP (GRE) - Ferencvárosi TC (HUN)
Referee: Glenn Nyberg SWE
Assistant Referee 1: Mehmet Culum SWE
Assistant Referee 2: Andreas Söderqvist SWE
Fourth Official: Fredrik Klitte SWE
Video Assistant Referee: Marco Fritz GER
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Sören Storks GER
UEFA Referee Observer: Björn Kuipers NED
UEFA Delegate: Michal Mertinyák SVK
18:45 CET - Molde (Aker Stadion)
Molde FK (NOR) - Legia Warszawa (POL)
Referee: Enea Jorgji ALB
Assistant Referee 1: Denis Rexha ALB
Assistant Referee 2: Ridiger Çokaj ALB
Fourth Official: Eldorjan Hamiti ALB
Video Assistant Referee: Luca Pairetto ITA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Michael Fabbri ITA
UEFA Referee Observer: Alain Sars FRA
UEFA Delegate: Scott Struthers SCO
21:00 CET - Geneva (Stade de Genève)
Servette FC (SUI) - PFK Ludogorets 1945 (BUL)
Referee: Filip Glova SVK
Assistant Referee 1: Daniel Poláček SVK
Assistant Referee 2: Peter Bednár SVK
Fourth Official: Martin Dohál SVK
Video Assistant Referee: Marco Di Bello ITA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Michal Očenáš SVK
UEFA Referee Observer: Alan Mario Sant MLT
UEFA Delegate: Edgar Manukyan ARM
Mentor for Delegate: Loukás Siótropos GRE
21:00 CET - Seville (Estadio Benito Villamarín)
Real Betis Balompié (ESP) - GNK Dinamo (CRO)
Referee: Mykola Balakin UKR
Assistant Referee 1: Oleksandr Berkut UKR
Assistant Referee 2: Dmytro Zaporozhenko UKR
Fourth Official: Viktor Kopiyevs’kyy UKR
Video Assistant Referee: Maurizio Mariani ITA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Kateryna Monzul’ UKR
UEFA Referee Observer: Geórgios Bíkas GRE
UEFA Delegate: João Morais POR
21:00 CET - Amsterdam (Johan Cruijff ArenA)
AFC Ajax (NED) - FK Bodø/Glimt (NOR)
Referee: António Emanuel Carvalho Nobre POR
Assistant Referee 1: Paulo Ricardo Duarte Brás POR
Assistant Referee 2: Pedro Nuno de Sá Martins POR
Fourth Official: Hélder Filipe Cláudio Carvalho POR
Video Assistant Referee: Tiago Bruno Lopes Martins POR
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Luís Miguel Branco Godinho POR
UEFA Referee Observer: Karen Nalbandyan ARM
UEFA Delegate: Jonathan Leese ENG
21:00 CET - Budapest (Bozsik Aréna)
Maccabi Haifa FC (ISR) - KAA Gent (BEL)
Referee: William Collum SCO
Assistant Referee 1: Francis Connor SCO
Assistant Referee 2: David McGeachie SCO
Fourth Official: David Dickinson SCO
Video Assistant Referee: David Coote ENG
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Andrew Dallas SCO
UEFA Referee Observer: Augustus Viorel Constantin ROU
UEFA Delegate: Arturs Gaidels LVA
If Nyberg performs well, he might get one of the bigger return legs in Champions League?
ReplyDeleteThere is a big tension about Olympiacos-Ferencvaros or Kuipers is at a random game only to assess Nyberg?
DeleteGood to see Nyberg, Glova, and Balakin. Collum with another poor appointment, I think he is one of two names in elite that deserved to be demotion with Sidiropoulos.
ReplyDeleteI guess Nyberg will maybe go directly into CL quarters or a really big 1/8 return game in case of a good performance. Otherwise the appointment of Guida over him would make no sense to me at all
DeleteThe highlight is Kuipers for Nyberg, in my opinion a test before a big CL assignment, either return legs Round of 16, or directly quarterfinal, moreover candidate for both Conference and Europa League final.
ReplyDeleteGames in Greece are always hot, so very good choice by committee, I would say.
The rest are mostly regular assignments, personally I would like to see a real development by Glova, a name that should still convince committee, but quite often getting good games. We will see.
Why Israeli teams always get Scottish referees it’s really weird.
DeleteI really like Nyberg and his style, but do you think that he has a chance of officiating the EL final if he does well so “early” in his elite career?
DeleteI hope ge gets the chance!
Be interested in the experts opinion, is this likely Pawson’s last game in the competition this season or does he have any hope for further? Interestingly, UEFA seem to rate him better than PGMOL!
ReplyDeleteHe can get further games, depending on his performance.
DeleteOver the years, he has acquired in UEFA this special status of third English referee in the ranking after Taylor and Oliver, being a solid Category 1 but without hopes for a jump in Elite (and I agree, based on his performances). While domestically things can change quickly year after year and very often we see different situations if compared to UEFA management, in UEFA games he has gained the full trust by committee for certain games of a medium - high level, but not that much like Elite referees.
Many thanks Chefren, always a pleasure to read your expert opinion.
DeleteAs soon as I red Nyberg's name I was wondering if he was ruled out by CL 16th return leg; your comments and the presence of Kuipers as observer means a project to appoint him in a sonorous 16th return leg match or even in the quarterfinal. I really cannot image him ONLY in conference
ReplyDeleteChefren, what is your prediction in Inter-Atletico next week?
ReplyDeleteI expected Nyberg there but that seems unlikely now.
Kuipers is assessing Nyberg in one hot context to see if he is ready for another...? :P
Delete@anonymous
DeleteTwo games within one week sounds ambitious. I bet Nyberg might be in consideration for the hot ATM-INT return :) We’ve seen it before that referees were first tested in a lower league before they were assigned to the biggest R16 return game.
For the INT-ATM first leg next week, there is a German observer (Fandel), which I think would indicate a mid-Elite referee. Wild guess: Gözübüyük? I noticed he has a domestic game on Saturday. This could push Makkelie straight into the QF.
It would be a very challenging test for Gozubuyuk, given how Atlético plays and we have a match against an Italian team. Let's remember all the discussions after Atlético - Milan some seasons ago. Basically, as prediction, I couldn't expect less than an experienced elite, but Herbert Fandel name as observer can also open to a "middle way", but still an Elite referee with a certain experience already gained. In this regard, indeed a name like Gozubuyuk would suit for the occasion.
DeleteGozubuyuk’s domestic appointment is early Saturday, a game between two fair playing teams with his regular AR’s and Van Boekel as VAR.
DeleteThis definitely seems a warming-up before a European match. Could be a Wednesday game as well.
If we look at the 1st leg referees appointed so far [Peljto, Letexier, Guida, Sanchez], Gozubuyuk would also fit in this category.
Did you think Gozubuyuk with Zeinstra could be NED No.2? What expecting number of referees in Euro this year?
DeleteHe is already No.2 of NED isn’t he?
DeleteCould be a name for EURO’s as well
I mean NED no.2 on Euro, is he have the chance? With FRA, ESP, ITA, ENG already have their No.2, only Germany still unknown and with uprising from neutral/small countries that have good referees at the moment.
DeleteNice season for Balakin! Good luck! Wish him to be on control.
ReplyDeleteAndrew Dallas is SCO, not ENG ;)
ReplyDeleteIMO underpunished challenge by FTC31 in 77', YC given & no VAR intervention.
ReplyDeleteCan agree with you. Think VAR felt that it was low and that he didn't really connect with the leg, but for me the force is still enough for SFP
DeleteIf we all agree that the point of contact is on the foot, then the force cant be that accesive since its only the leg that hurts.. 😉 No SFP.. Borderline at the most
DeleteSo in LotG where does it say point of contact, not mentioned. This was UEFA who added as a criteria but have since been trying to rein back in with contact above the ankle but little intensity
DeleteSK Sturm Graz (AUT) - ŠK Slovan Bratislava (SVK)
ReplyDeleteClear penalty whistled by Swedish referee
https://streamin.me/v/38837b84
To follow a few minutes ago, VAR intervention for a straight red card, in my opinion here important mistake to miss this one live. Good intervention by Swiss VAR.
How about Nyberg performance?
ReplyDeleteIMO overall good performance by Nyberg but missed a free kick and potential YC at minute ~ 22
DeleteIncidents mentioned from the game:
Delete22 - https://www.streambug.io/cv/56dfee
77 - https://www.streambug.io/cv/6547c0
Very funny remark of Hungarian commentator after slow motion of the second offence: "Aaa attention. The ball was played!"
DeleteI stayed speechless...
22 clear missed yellow
Delete77 clear missed Red
Chefren, does this rule Nyberg out of the CL?
DeleteBoth situations are 🟨 offences imo.
DeleteAt 77', the hitting point is mostly on the foot, so you are only left with the 'tackle as an attack' question. Seeing the kind of tackle the Ferencvaros player is trying to make, to kick the ball away with the top of his boot rather than the sole/studs (and to be fair to the Hungarian commentator he was fairly close to making it), I'm much more orientated towards assessing this as a YC than a red. 22' was missed by the Swedish referees too central positioning, a clear reckless step on foot and minus 0,1 by Kuipers.
@Anonymous 9:13
DeleteI'm not the person who can say that Nyberg will miss CL due to some incidents in this game :) You should ask Kuipers for that, I can just report my opinion!
22' is evident YC, missed because he missed the foul. Too close to the incident for having the best view?
77' expected decision is red card, excessive force is clear, but thje point of contact can save from a "clear and obvious mistake" indeed and that's I think it was the assessment by VAR, just a few enough and it would have been a 100% mandatory RC. Still, committee can say to Nyberg that they wanted RC there, but the YC is supportable.
What I can blame about Nyberg in this second incident is the attitude, too lazy after the whistle, I think he hadn't realized the nature of the foul at first glance, slow whistle, and he didn't react with body. But this can also be a natural reaction by a "Nordic" referee, because I have always in my mind what Italian referees do in such cases :) differenty style
77' is a YC. Not enough contact/force for a RC with reference to UEFA guidelines. That would be an extremely harsh RC.
DeleteHow could Balakin missed very clear handball in front of him? What about his overall performance?
ReplyDeleteHere the handball in Balakin game: https://streambug.org/cv/aec22c
ReplyDeleteIf the defender plays that ball, would it still be considered unnatural position of the arm?
DeleteIn this instance Id suggest yes, as arm is above and beyond shoulder height and in quite an unnatural position for the defenders movement, but good question
DeleteThe decisive goal in Maccabi Haifa - Gent was originally a wrong offside decision by AR2.
ReplyDeleteVideo: https://streamin.me/v/678a7af0
Interesting to explain the nature of the mistake, AR couldn't expect that he was about to make an assessment, when defender was playing ball and the attacker deflected it. So the result was that he didn't find the best positioning (see how slow he was walking, quite sure that nothing would have happened) and then he flagged for a wrong offside. An assistant referee, like the other officials, must be always concentrated and "always expect the unexpected". This could have been seen if "normal action".
Video clips from Molde vs Legia Warszawa
ReplyDeletehttps://we.tl/t-2LJ4H5Nv4I
Thans, overall it seems an expected level performance.
DeleteIn 40 I think it was very likely YC for reckless.
In 52' you can accept NO PENALTY.
63': regular goal, no interference.
66' keeper makes a regular save with hand inside penalty area, playing ball before contact with opponent.
Personally, I would have liked YC in 87' for SPA-like but not a mandatory decision.
90'+3 the player was surely at fault with his behavior, he did that at least twice, but I wonder whether a different communication would have ensured a better management of this situation.
I can agree about the rest of the incidents.